Read the Connections Issue here
Hello and welcome to the second issue of Flourish Magazine, a magazine by and for the cancer community from integrative cancer care charity Yes to Life and creative health charity Artlift, who are based in Gloucestershire.
In this issue we explore the theme of ‘Connections’, inspired by Yes to Life’s Annual Conference on the 24th of September in London Finding a Deeper Connection, looking at how we connect to ourselves, our communities, our bodies, our minds and our environment in the face of cancer.
For each issue of the magazine we run an open call for submissions from people with lived experience of cancer around our theme and – much like our first edition – we received an incredibly creative and inspiring range of responses. From meditation to Morris dancing, the submissions we chose show the true scope of the cancer experience and highlight the importance of connection in our lives.
Receiving a cancer diagnosis can isolate us at exactly the moment we need to connect. The weight of the word ‘cancer’ and its implications might feel like a heavy load to impart, encouraging us to remove ourselves from our usual activities or try to manage on our own. Yet if this issue is anything to go by – making connections is as vital as eating, sleeping and breathing.
You’ll see how creative projects and support groups can empower us to find friends, joy and expression through cancer treatment and recovery, how community work can provide an essential lifeline for cancer patients, and how connecting with our minds, bodies and nature can bring us peace and improve our overall wellbeing. At the back of the magazine you’ll also find a list of resources, which includes support for those going through cancer. Let this issue be a rallying cry – you are absolutely not alone!
We aim to show a diverse range of responses to the cancer experience and as such have included submissions with dark and challenging themes, all of which come with content warnings.
Make sure you also check out our online content, such as music and blog posts, released weekly on the Artlift and Yes to Life websites. We’d love to hear your feedback – you can complete a quick survey here telling us what you thought. This helps us to plan future magazines and better support the cancer community.
You’ll be able to find a physical copy of the magazine across Gloucestershire (see the full list below), and alongside the print magazine (available to view digitally here) we are releasing weekly digital content submitted through our open call such as film and blog posts, released weekly on the Artlift and Yes to Life websites over the coming months.
Pick up a physical copy:
Yes to Life Annual Conference. 24th September 2002, London. By your tickets now to be able to come into the venue to pick up your copy.
www.yestolifeannualconference.org
Charlie’s Gloucestershire FOCUS Support and Information Centre at Cheltenham General Hospital Great Oaks Hospice Longfield Hospice Maggie’s Cheltenham Macmillan Cancer Support and Information Hub at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital Macmillan Next Steps Gloucestershire
You can see the first digital piece for Issue 2 on the Yes to Life blog here
Find out more about Flourish Magazine here
Issue one available at: https://yestolife.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/FLOURISH-ISSUE-ONE-DIGITAL.pdf
